Bed and platen printer with ribbon inkers

ABSTRACT

A stamping apparatus is provided for use in forming a composite multicolored indicia on a workpiece. The apparatus utilizes a single die in combination with a plurality of transfer ribbons of different colors and a rotatably mounted workpiece-supporting member whereby a plurality of multicolor impressions can be simultaneously made on the supported workpieces.

United States Patent Harold T. Collins;

Don L. Shofner, Bartlesville, Okla. 778,494

Nov. 25, 1968 Apr. 13, 1971 Phillips Petroleum Company Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee BED AND PLATEN PRINTER WITH RIBBON INKERS 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 101/41, 101/193,101/336,101/9 Int. Cl B41f1/44, B41f 17/14 Field of Search 101/193,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 373,426 11/1887 Barker 101/193 2,065,690 12/1936 Gould et a1. 101/193 2,370,416 2/1945 Polley 101/336 3,004,486 10/ 1 961 Typrowicz 101/193 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-J. Reed Fisher Attorney-Pendleton, Neuman, Williams & Anderson ABSTRACT: A stamping apparatus is provided for use in forming a composite multicolored indicia on a workpiece. The apparatus utilizes a single die in combination with a plurality of transfer ribbons of different colors and a rotatably mounted workpiece-supporting member whereby a plurality of multicolor impressions can be simultaneously made on the supported workpieces.

Patented April 13, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fie rzm WED ANll) PLATEN PRINTER WITH RIBBON INKERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved stamping apparatus which overcomes the problems 'aforenoted which have beset prior structures.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved stamping apparatus which is capable of accommodating a variety of workpieces and permits numerous color variations to be readily incorporated in a composite indicia.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an apparatus which is simple and expedient in operation and permits easy replacement of dies and transfer ribbons without prolonged shutdown periods.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a stamping apparatus is provided for use in forming a multicolored composite indicia on a workpiece. The apparatus includes a single die member having a plurality of spaced complemental indicia-forming areas arranged on the imprinting surface thereof. A rotatably mounted workpiecesupporting member is provided which is disposed beneath the die imprinting surface. The supporting member is adapted to simultaneously accommodate a plurality of workpieces. The locations of the various workpieces on the supporting member correspond to the locations of the indicia-forming areas on the die-imprinting surface. A plurality of transfer ribbons of different colors are provided and each has a portion thereof disposed intermediate the die-imprinting surface and the supported workpieces. Each ribbon portion is aligned with an indicia-forming area on the die-imprinting surface. Upon relative movement of the die and workpiece-supporting member into impressing relation, all of the supported workpieces are simultaneously impressed with an indicia. Upon the die and workpiece-supporting member being moved out of impressing relation, the supporting member is rotated through a predetermined are so that each supported workpiece is successively moved into alignment with the indicia-forming areas.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of the improved stamping apparatus and taken looking downwardly towards the workpiece-supporting member and with the die and support member out of impressing relation.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. I but taken looking upwardly towards the die imprinting surface.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but looking towards the transfer ribbon infeed side.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of one form of the workpiece-supporting member.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of one form of the die-imprinting surface.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing three workpieces supported by the member.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. I, one form of the improved stamping apparatus 10 is shown. The apparatus includes an upright stationary frame 11 to which is affixed a bracket I2. Mounted on bracket 12 for rotation about a vertical axis is a workpiece-supporting member 13, the function and details of which will be described more fully hereinafter.

Disposed above member 13 and mounted on frame portion 11a for reciprocatory vertical movement is a carrier unit 14. To guide the unit in its vertical movement are a pair of upright parallel rods 15 which extend through suitable openings 16 formed in unit 14. In addition to openings I6, there is a central opening 17 to accommodate the upright portions of the frame 11. Openings 16 are disposed at opposite sides of frame portion llla.

In order to impart reciprocating vertical movement to carrier unit 14 relative to the support member 13, a suitable electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic motor, not shown, may be utilized, or if desired the unit can be moved manually through a suitable gear and rack combination. The unit 14 is normally biased to assume an open, nonimpressing relation with respect to support member 13.

Secured to the horizontally disposed underside of carrier unit 14 is an impression die 18. The die is normally heated electrically and is locked or otherwise secured in place on the unit 14 and in vertical alignment with the support member 13. Die 18, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, is of sectional construction and has an elongated imprinting surface 18a on which is located a pair of spaced indicia-forming areas or embossments 18b and c. The areas 18b and c are of a complementary configuration and cooperate to form a composite indicia on the workpieces 20a and b as they are successively passed under the die areas by the rotating member 13.

Subtending the imprinting surface 18a of die 18 are elongated portions 21a and 2211 taken from a pair of transfer ribbons 21 and 22, respectively. Each ribbon 21 or 22 includes a heat responsive pigment of a different color which is transferable to the workpiece when the ribbon is compressed in the presence of heat between the die area and the aligned workpiece. Each ribbon preferably extends from a feed roll, not shown, past a first guide rod 23a, under the die I8, past a second guide rod 23b, and then onto a takeup roll, not shown. Rods 23a and b are disposed on opposite sides of the die 18 and are mounted on arms 24 which depend from and are carried by unit 14.

The feed and takeup rolls, on the other hand, are rotatable about horizontally disposed axles, not shown, which assume stationary positions. The feed rolls are free to turn'only upon a predetermined turning force being applied thereto. The takeup rolls, on the other hand, are mounted to turn only a predetermined number of degrees so as to compensate for the amount of ribbon fed from the feed rolls. The mechanical arrangement and operation of the ribbon feed and takeup rolls are well known in this art.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is important that ribbon portions 21a and 22a be in registration with the areas 18b and 180, respectively. The amount of ribbon fed from each feed roll will depend upon the extent to which carrier unit M and guide rods 23a and b move vertically downwardly towards supporting member 13 in order that an impressing relation will be effected between the die areas 18b and 18c and the respective workpieces 20a and b.

In the support member 13 shown in FIG. 4, the workpieces 20a and b are arranged in diametrically opposed relation with respect to the axis of rotation 25 of the member 13. The workpieces are held in their predetermined relative positions by suitable jaw members 26 or the like.

To assure that member 13 assumes its proper positions of rotational adjustments, an indexing assembly 27 is provided. The assembly is fixedly secured to a stationary pedestal 28 mounted on the bracket 12. The pedestal includes a thrust bearing, not shown, on which the support member 13 is positioned. The assembly 27 includes a spring-loaded detent or pin 270 which is adapted to extend into appropriate openings 13a and b formed in member 13 when one of the openings is moved into alignment with the detent, see FIG. 4.

The relative locations of the openings 13a and b are carefully determined so that the workpieces are properly aligned with the respective die areas when the detent is projecting into one of the openings.

The rotation of member 13 may be efiected either manually or by automatically operated power means, not shown. The loading and unloading of the support member 13 with workpieces may also be accomplished either manually or automatically in a manner well understood in this art.

P16. 6 discloses a modified form 10' of the improved apparatus wherein three separate transfer ribbons 30, 31 and 32 are utilized. The ribbons are arranged in closely spaced parallel relation. As seen, each ribbon is aligned with one of the three workpieces 33a, b and c mounted on support member 13. Workpieces 33a and b and 33b and c are symmetrically arranged about axis 25 and are spaced apart by angles of approximately 90. Thus, with the modified fonn 10 of apparatus, a three color composite indicia can be readily formed upon successive movement of each workpiece through the three positions shown. Modified apparatus 10 would utilize a die, not shown, which has three indicia-forming areas instead of two as shown in FIG. 5. Each one of the three die indicia-forming areas is vertically aligned with the respective positions of the workpieces shown in FIG. 6. To assure that member 13 moves through an arc of not more than 90 at any one time, four openings 34a, b, c and d are provided in member 13 to receive detent 27a.

Depending upon the size (diameter) of member 13 and the size and configuration of the workpiece and composite indicia therefor, more workpiece positions can be provided on member 13 than is shown in FIG. 6 with the result that a corresponding greater number of transfer ribbons and die indicia-forming areas would also be provided.

While the apparatus has heretofore been described as having the carrier unit 14 movable relative to the support member 13, it is intended to include within the scope of this invention an apparatus wherein the carrier unit assumes a stationary position and the support member and bracket therefor are movable vertically relative to the carrier unit and die thereof into and out of impressing relation.

Thus, it will be seen that a simple yet sturdy stamping apparatus has been provided which enables a multicolored composite indicia to be expeditiously formed on a plurality of workpieces.

While several embodiments of the invention have heretofore been described, it is to be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto, but further modifications are contemplated and it is intended by the appended claims to cover such modifications.

We claim:

1. A stamping apparatus for forming a multicolored composite indicia on a workpiece, comprising a single reciprocating die member having a plurality of spaced complemental indicia-fonning areas arranged on the imprinting surface thereof, said indicia-forming areas cooperating to form on a workpiece the predetennined composite indicia; a workpiece-supporting member mounted for selective rotation beneath said die-imprinting surface, said member simultaneously supporting thereon a plurality of workpieces at predetermined locations, the axis of rotation of said member being substantially perpendicular to said imprinting surface and the direction of movement thereof; substantially parallel transfer ribbons, each ribbon being disposed between said die imprinting surface and said workpiece-supporting member and in alignment with an indicia-forming area of said die-imprinting surface; first means for effecting relative movement of said die-imprinting surface and said supporting member into and out of a workpiece impressing relation and independently of said transfer ribbons whereby a plurality of workpieces are simultaneously impressed at said indicia-forming areas; and second means operatively connected to said supporting member to effect rotation of said member through a predetermined are independently of said die member and said transfer ribbons, subsequent to said die-imprinting surface and said supporting member being relatively moved out of said workpieceimpressing relation, whereby each workpiece supported by said member is successively moved into alignment with the indicia-forming areas and the corresponding transfer ribbons.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including roller means for automatically feeding a predetermined segment of each transfer ribbon past the corresponding die indicia-forming area prior to relative movement of said die-imprinting surface and said supporting member into said workpiece-impressing relation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said imprinting surface comprises at least a pair of complemental indicia-forming areas, and said supporting member rotates independently of said reciprocating die member through an arc of at least approximately in order to effect successive movement of a workpiece from a position of alignment with one indiciaforming area to a position of alignment with the other indiciaforming area. 

1. A stamping apparatus for forming a multicolored composite indicia on a workpiece, comprising a single reciprocating die member having a plurality of spaced complemental indicia-Forming areas arranged on the imprinting surface thereof, said indiciaforming areas cooperating to form on a workpiece the predetermined composite indicia; a workpiece-supporting member mounted for selective rotation beneath said die-imprinting surface, said member simultaneously supporting thereon a plurality of workpieces at predetermined locations, the axis of rotation of said member being substantially perpendicular to said imprinting surface and the direction of movement thereof; substantially parallel transfer ribbons, each ribbon being disposed between said die imprinting surface and said workpiecesupporting member and in alignment with an indicia-forming area of said die-imprinting surface; first means for effecting relative movement of said die-imprinting surface and said supporting member into and out of a workpiece impressing relation and independently of said transfer ribbons whereby a plurality of workpieces are simultaneously impressed at said indicia-forming areas; and second means operatively connected to said supporting member to effect rotation of said member through a predetermined arc independently of said die member and said transfer ribbons, subsequent to said die-imprinting surface and said supporting member being relatively moved out of said workpiece-impressing relation, whereby each workpiece supported by said member is successively moved into alignment with the indicia-forming areas and the corresponding transfer ribbons.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including roller means for automatically feeding a predetermined segment of each transfer ribbon past the corresponding die indicia-forming area prior to relative movement of said die-imprinting surface and said supporting member into said workpiece-impressing relation.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said imprinting surface comprises at least a pair of complemental indicia-forming areas, and said supporting member rotates independently of said reciprocating die member through an arc of at least approximately 90* in order to effect successive movement of a workpiece from a position of alignment with one indicia-forming area to a position of alignment with the other indicia-forming area. 